HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND TRADE TOP PRIORITIES AT WPC

Released on May 23, 2000

Health, agriculture and trade are top priorities for Saskatchewan at the

Western Premiers' Conference (WPC) held May 23-25 in Brandon, Manitoba Premier

Roy Romanow said today.



"Health funding and reform will top the agenda at this year's conference,"

Romanow said. "Governments must come together, to develop a national vision

for medicare in the 21st century.



"The provinces all agree the current level of federal funding through the CHST

is inadequate. A fairer sharing of costs must occur if we want a national

system that works for all Canadians."



Premier Romanow said he will continue to press for a common western front in

the next round of WTO negotiations.



"Canada does not support western farmers to anywhere near the extent that

farmers are supported in the U.S. or in Europe. Our farmers face an

international market that is stacked against them. I will continue to press

hard for the elimination of trade-distorting subsidies and for equivalent

Canadian support while subsidies remain."



The premier will emphasize the need for a national transportation strategy,

with a national highways program as the immediate priority. "We need Ottawa's

participation to speed up twinning of Highways 1 and 16. We also need action

from the federal government to ensure better airline service in Western Canada."



The western premiers will meet with several Western U.S. governors during the

conference to discuss cross-border co-operation, trade and justice issues.



"We have an opportunity to expand our cross-border trading relationship and to

discuss other issues of common interest such as transportation linkages and the

ongoing international trade negotiations in agriculture," Romanow said.



The premiers also will meet with Raymond Chretien, Canada's Ambassador to the

U.S. and Gordon Giffen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada.



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For more information, contact:



Anna Arneson

Executive Council

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-0850